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2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

160 Ranked Colleges
3,881 Degrees Awarded
$7,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 27,047 people earned their degree in music, making the major the 40th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, music graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $25,639 and had an average of $28,653 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 5,527 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $25,034 and $26,370 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 3,881 music graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,277 and $25,415 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 160 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in music. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent music programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the music program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Music (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Duke not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Duke is $-1,314 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k. A negative average net price may seem strange, but it generally means that financial aid will more than cover the cost to attend the school.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Music at Duke

#2

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanderbilt University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Vanderbilt is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 50 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $6,017 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Vanderbilt.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Vanderbilt Music Report

#3

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 47 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is $6,063 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#4

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wake Forest University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wake Forest University, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $5,981 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wake Forest University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Wake Forest University Music Report

#5

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Florida. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UF also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $4,069 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Florida.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UF Music Report

#6

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#3 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k list, University of Virginia has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $11,696 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Virginia.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at University of Virginia - Main Campus

#7

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 87 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k list, Florida State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Florida State is $6,816 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Florida State Music Report

#8

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Emory is a fairly large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 31 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k list, Emory has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Emory University is $9,629 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Music at Emory

#9

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, William & Mary did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 12 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at William & Mary, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $4,963 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend William & Mary.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full William & Mary Music Report

#10

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#21 in overall quality

University of North Carolina School of the Arts came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of North Carolina School of the Arts is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 25 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

UNCSA also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for UNCSA is $8,472 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full UNCSA Music Report

#11

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

University of Central Florida ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UCF is a large school located in Orlando, Florida that handed out 29 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

UCF excels when it comes to music quality. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. The yearly cost to attend University of Central Florida is $7,847 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at UCF

#12

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Pensacola, Florida, this fairly large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $3,912 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of West Florida.

Full UWF Music Report

#13

Berea College

Berea, Kentucky

With a ranking of #13, Berea College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Berea College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Berea, Kentucky. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,296 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Berea College.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Music at Berea

#14

Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

With a ranking of #14, Elizabeth City State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, this small public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for ECSU is $1,919 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Music at Elizabeth City State University

Florida International University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. FIU is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Florida International University is $6,683 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Music at FIU

#16

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Florida Atlantic University is a large school located in Boca Raton, Florida that handed out 15 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

FAU also made our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #23. The yearly cost to attend Florida Atlantic University is $7,331 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Music at Florida Atlantic University

University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $5,616 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of South Florida - Main Campus.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Music at USF Tampa

#18

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia
#5 in overall quality

Virginia Tech landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Virginia Tech is a large school located in Blacksburg, Virginia that handed out 16 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

Virginia Tech also took the #5 spot in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $14,010 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Virginia Tech.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Read more about Music at Virginia Tech

#19

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northern Kentucky University is located in Highland Heights, Kentucky and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Northern Kentucky University is $6,295 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Music at NKU

#20

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of North Florida is located in Jacksonville, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s music degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $5,942 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNF.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Florida Music Report

#21

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#18 in overall quality

University of Georgia landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UGA is a large public school situated in Athens, Georgia. It awarded 46 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k list, UGA has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Music Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UGA is $10,241 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Georgia Music Report

#22

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Fort Myers, Florida, this fairly large public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified bachelors’s music students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for FGCU is $8,748 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Music at Florida Gulf Coast University

#23

University of Mississippi

University, Mississippi

University of Mississippi came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in University, Mississippi, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Mississippi is $11,566 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Music at University of Mississippi

#24

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

With a ranking of #24, McNeese State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. McNeese is a medium-sized public school situated in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It awarded 16 bachelors’s music degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend McNeese is $16,492 for southeast region bachelor’s degree music students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Music at McNeese

#25

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Music Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNC Greensboro is a public institution located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $10,808 for Southeast Region Bachelor’s Degree Music students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNC Greensboro.

Read full report on Music at UNC Greensboro

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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